•

Main 9::-.. .;;- .... ..;.

·. -"

'ff~~-_;

";

~--------~.;,.:.. ___ :..:.__ ___ _:_============·::·:::::::::::::: - . --~-~~---'

Headquarters.

_JjiJlo

Sl~UATE~

1s on 1deo.

izotions of the

war a nd the

l

The fie ld wos no;-ec -, :.=::~::

presen t Roya l

in the Air Forces ' ·

Lieuteno n

lines in the kg

over the A; 'e-c

squodron o,e

the armis:· ce ·• :::·

At the pe rso,c ·=-=--

grave was mo

Twenty three )ec·s

17, 1941,

therea fte r.

Although much o-: ··e ::-::-. -

in thi s boo

li fe of o so lo ie• c·

a t best from ec· •

Ye t there ore _- o· ·

the boys 1-.e•e .

rooms ro rec

thea tre, c go-.::-­

te nded,

hap piness, oc·· s = carefu lly de-,·e c=-e-::-

- -

SITUATED in the beautiful California valley of San Joaquin, near Fresno, Hammer Field

is an ideal setting for the heavy air traffic that it accommodates. Here various organ­

izations of the Army Air Forces are in training for the missions they are to perform in this

war and the field is a beehive of bustling men and roaring planes.

The field was named in honor of Lieutenant Earl M. Hammer, a native of California, who

became a member of Squadron 84 of the Royal Flying Corps, the predecessor of the

present Royal . Air Force of the British Empire. He was the first Californian killed in action

in the Air Forces in World War I.

Lieutenant Hammer was shot down March 19, 1918 about five miles behind the German

lines in the Argonne area. A few hours afterwords, a German aviator dropped a note

over the Allied lines saying Hammer hod met his death. However, other members of his

squadron believed they had seen him land his ship and it was not until some time after

the armistice that it was established definitely that he had been killed.

At the personal request of General John J. Pershing, a search was made for his grave

and it was found between those of two German aviators in a small French village. His

grave was moved to the Argonne Cemetery.

Twenty three years after young Hommer was shot down, almost to the day, on March

17, 1941, the ground was broken for Hammer Field and it was activated very shortly

thereafter.

Although much of the operations naturally can not be disclosed we do attempt to illustrate

in this book much of the daily activities and

life of a soldier at this Base. It is a bvsy day

at best from early morning till taps at night.

Yet there are many facilities to be enjoyed by

the> boys here. There are comfortable day

rooms to relax in where all types of clubroom

recreations · are available. There is a fine

theatre, a good Chapel which is well at­

tended, swimming pools and ample sports

fields. Although there's lots of work-the boys'

happiness, both spiritually and mentally, is

carefully developed.

lieutenant Earl M. Hammer

·~O!)SDW Pl9!:1 J9WWDH

Interior of barracks. Here's where the leuon of tidineu and orderli­neu is really practiced A lesson which mothers and wives hope will last through life.

Another view of a dayroom.

-- ---·- =-----====----

... -·-= ~~ •;:e · :a ,: • .c-- .,. ! Officers' Club .

Game room-Officers ' Club.

y Day pa ra de.

Lounge-Officers' Club

oay li ne-up.

Another view of a dayroom.

The sun shines brighter for these good boys.

Maior Hewitt Wheless, a no· tionol hero, cited b'f !'resident Roosevelt, is greeted at Ham· mer Field an a recent visit b'f

Col, \(irlse'f,

__ ------::

; '•. ~ ~-· {;.?:fJ:.'J 1

' .. • ' ~- ~:;,:;.' I' •'' • 4 I!>" ..

The fire depart­ment at Hamme r

1 Field operates the finest and latest equipment.

~

Sign posted in the Sub-Depot. It speaks for itself.

An appreciative audience.

The theatre is one of the most pop­ular places o the Base.

One of the en­listed men's mess halls.

Th• serge::·-

----The fire deport ­ment at Hem me r Field operates the finest end la tes t equipment.

An appreciative audience.

The theatre is one of the most pop- 1

ulcr places o" the Base.

One of the en­listed men's mess halls.

t cuts ,he sergean a mean chop,

. wish they were Housewives . ed" as are "ArmY equ1pp K P these boys on . .

! I

Day ar night the boys crowd in to spend their army pay where the values are extraordinary.

Post Exchange building.

'-i'

' :. QI tJ

Post Exchange .

•

The traffic: in the exchange at night is · really terrific:.

.,_ .. -""

' ~ ------... ;a F

1 ;sz _¥5 ~

• C

Conditioning exercises.

~ofl\·11\9 eierc'. ~ '-

Post Exchange.

The traffic: in the exc:hange at night is really terrific:.

- u ~ _"If

Calisthenic:s.

Conditioning exerc:ises.

This firing range is where the men from Hammer Field sharpen their eye.

Practice gas attack.

Squaw Valley firing range.

Skeet shooting is fine p•oc· · =~ marksman ship .

These boys find o~· · ::· .:.::::: flying will be dore ·.::::: y. c.::• ore port of the 301: '"'•--=:. Station.

Try this some time clothes on. with all your

Part of the cond'f . 1 1on1ng program .

THE scenes on these pages show/.art of life at Camp Soquel. This conditioning camp is operated by Hammer Fiel • The enlisted men and officers go there volun­tarily for three day periods for rest and relaxation. There is no drilling or regular army life and the men are encouraged to participate in whatever form of relaxation they most enjoy. Available is wonderful mountain fishing, swimming, hiking, lolling, tun bathing and aU forms of athletic sports. The food and quarters are furnished for them and the quantity of food put away there attests to the restorative value of the mountain setting.

_j

,.. -~ Soquel. This conditioning - a d officers go there volun­

• e:e is no drilling or regular ·- -·.otever form of relaxation

·- - - ·-; swimming, hiking, lolli_ng, :- _ a d quarters are furnished

• ::--esl-s o the restorative value

THE obstacle course pictures on these pages is a vital part of the conditioning for Air Force men. Besides building rugged bodies it teaches coordination of all senses. The course must be run in a prescr~.~ed time and with full equip­ment, including a rifle. The 'f sk is a most difficult one. ,,

THE obstacle course pictures on these pages is a vital part of t he conditioning for Air Force men. Besides building ru gged bodies it teaches coordination of all senses. The course must be run in a prescri!:?ed time and with full equip-

ent, including a rifle. The 1r,sk is a most difficult one.

A-29 Lockheed.

8-24 Consolidated Liberator heavy bomber, noted with the . 8-17 for lifting capacity and range.

• ~

. ...

Heavy Bomber: B- 17 &oe •; tange attack. lh o..-,, ~ cessH in Europe , Afri cc: : : : •

P-47 Republic Thunderbolt high-altitude fighters.

Heavy Bomber: B-17 Boeing Flying Fortress. famous four-engine specialist in high altitude. long tange attack. Its own heavy defensive armament and its ,.payload" have won spectacular suc­cesses in Europe, Africa and the South Pacific.

WJH! dJJ)I 3M

WE KEEP TH£ M FLY I.NG

A-29 Lockheed.

·ewou peuJoe II•"' SH o+ dn sau!I ,.,.,:, fJ&10· •'fl

·1ae,.s we, dee1 ~:>O1:i 81fJ punoJo

_ S:l!UD1f:18W 81fl

A couple of "Hot" pursuit ships visit Hammer Field.

f,-1

~-'Tler Field.

. ..

Porochv+e R' •g gers.

j HE pa,ac\.ule ,;99•" \,ave aoe al tl,e n,a,t im·

portant iobs on t\,e field.

,.

Interior of Hospital word.

One of the many nurses on duty. These girls ore Commissioned Officers in the Army and guarantee our boys the world's finest medical attention.

There will be no doctor's bill for this ex­traction and it couldn't be better done.

This fine library is eq uippec wi th a fine collection of boob and periodicals covering ev­erything from technicol tomes to fiction stories. It is o mor! po pu lar recreation center.

-~ ·o of Hospital ward.

=· ::~ - ? y nurses on duty. These · • -e--- uioned Officers in the Army =· =-::---.., our boys the world's finest

doctor 's bill for this ex­- co ldn't be better done.

This fine library is equipped with a fine collection of books and periodicals covering ev­erything from technical tomes to fiction stories. It is a most popular recreation center.

This Base School trains men for transmitting messages thru the teletype.

The Hobby Shop at the Field furnishes machines and tools for anyone interested in mak­ing things from wood. Some of our best ashtrays on the Base come from these crafts­men.

Time out for another kind of shooting.

A day room get-together.

is a tough part of the obstacle course.

· ... winner wins the best pitcher.

-· • .:. :s·.cde co rse.

-.. wins the best pitcher.

Players c;ind kibitzers in a De Roo •

The Ham e· ::-. e .-. ·-. ming poo ::. . ~- ~~ - e-­i 5 0 e Cl ••I - - • :-• .: "' •

Base . · 1 :: ::-==- :· ::: . ; 9~ •==-

:. · ,

Officers' Club dance on Saturday nights. This one is sponsored by Chemical Warfare Officers.

men.

Many big radio shows come here to entertain us.

on a dance in

_ r< ed men put on a dance in : . ~es o Hotel.

Boxers in the outdoor ring.

The tennis courts are a popular new addition.

The C. 0. tops o fo r! one in volley bo ll.